AN ACT relating to the prevention of opioid drug overdose.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 218A to define terms and create the Opioid Drug Overdose Prevention Program within the Department for Public Health to include projects to encourage 911 calls when overdoses are observed; programs to increase awareness of opioid antidotes among those unlikely to overdose on opiates, overdose prevention; recognition and response education in drug treatment centers, outreach programs, and other organizations working with drug users and their families and communities; overdose recognition and response training in drug treatment centers; producing and distributing targeted or mass media materials on opioid drug overdose prevention and response; collaboration among health-care providers to promote the prescribing, dispensing, and distributing of opioid antidote; preparation of curricula for groups interested in the prevention of opioid drug overdose; coordinating education and training on opioid drug overdose response and treatment for certain groups; coordinating parent, family, and survivor education groups to prevent death from overdose; require health-care providers to ensure patient education on use of opioid antidote; prohibit disciplinary or other adverse action under relevant statutes for health-care providers that dispense opioid antidote in good faith to patients; permit those that have received patient information and believe in good faith that a person is experiencing a drug overdose to administer the opioid antidote; direct the Department for Public Health to promulgate administrative regulations to implement the drug overdose program; extend civil immunity under this section to licensed physicians, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, and physician assistants involved with training, prescribing, or dispensing the opioid antidote; create a new section of KRS Chapter 311A to authorize emergency medical technicians and paramedics to administer the opioid antidote to any person that the EMT or paramedic has been called to attend that is exhibiting symptoms consistent with opioid drug overdose; require every ambulance provider in Kentucky to keep an adequate supply of opioid antidote and the necessary equipment to administer it; require every ambulance provider to establish medical protocols to be used by EMT providers and paramedics in assessing an individual's overdosing on opioid drugs, determining correct dosages of opioid drugs, and the methods for administration; amend KRS 15A.342 to extend the Office of Drug Control Policy's authority to include the drug overdose prevention program created by this Act.

HCS/FN/LM - Retain original provisions; except add a new subsection to Section 2 of the bill to require that the program described therein not become operational unless federal grant funds or similar sources are available to completely fund the program; change the Cabinet for Health and Family Services department administering the program created in Section 2 from the Department for Public Health to the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services; delete Section 4 to reflect change of administering department.

HFA (1, T. Burch) - Delete original provisions; create new sections of KRS 218A to define terms; create the Opioid Drug Overdose Prevention Program within the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services; permit this program to include the following: projects and policies to encourage 911 calls when overdoses are observed, programs to increase awareness of opioid antidotes among those unlikely to overdose on opiates, overdose prevention, recognition, and response education in drug treatment centers, outreach programs and other organizations working with substance abusers and their families and communities, overdose recognition and response training in drug treatment centers, producing and distributing targeted or mass media materials on opioid drug overdose prevention and response, collaborating among health care providers to promote the prescribing, dispensing, response, and treatment for certain groups, coordinating parent, family, and survivor education groups to prevent death from overdose, coordinating education and training on opioid drug overdose response and treatment for certain groups, coordinating parent, family, and survivor education groups to prevent death from overdose; require health care providers to ensure patient education on use of opioid antidote; require physicians and advanced registered nurse practitioners when participating in this program and prescribing an opioid antidote to provide patient information; permit physicians and ARNPs to delegate the provision of patient information to certain entities; remove recourse to disciplinary action for health care providers that provide an opioid antidote to patients capable of administering the drug in an emergency; direct the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services to promulgate regulations to establish the Opioid Drug Overdose Prevention Program; require that the program described in the Act not become operational unless federal grant funds or similar sources are available to completely fund the program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 311A to permit emergency medical technicians and paramedics to administer an opioid antidote to any person who the EMT or paramedic has been called to attend if that person is exhibiting symptoms consistent with opioid drug overdose, require the EMT to follow the medical protocol established by the medical director in determining the appropriate dose of opioid antidote and the routes for administration; permit Kentucky ambulance providers to maintain an adequate supply of opioid antidote and the appropriate equipment for administration on every ambulance; establish protocols to be used by EMTs and paramedics in addressing opioid drug overdose.

HFA (3, T. Burch) - Delete original provisions; create new sections of KRS 218A to define terms; create the Opioid Drug Overdose Prevention Program within the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services and make the programs' components permissive; direct the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services to promulgate regulations to establish the Opioid Drug Overdose Prevention Program; require that the program described in the Act not become operational unless federal grant funds or similar sources are available to completely fund the program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 311A to permit emergency medical technicians and paramedics to administer an opioid antidote if a standing order or medical protocol established by the medical director of the employing licensed ambulance service permits; permit Kentucky ambulance providers to maintain an adequate supply of opioid antidote and the appropriate equipment for administration on every ambulance and establish protocols to be used by EMTs and paramedics in addressing opioid drug overdoses.